Both are supporters of the proposed bill, and Shivers represents Benita Veliz, a St. Mary's University graduate who's a national poster child for the DREAM Act. However, both have considerable knowledge of U.S. immigration law.

If all the requirements are met, they will be awarded conditional residency for a period of 10 years, during which they must complete two years of college or military service and stay out of trouble.

After becoming a permanent resident, the applicant must wait an additional three years before applying for citizenship.

As a permanent resident, the so-called DREAMer could petition for a spouse or unmarried child to gain legal status.

Once U.S. citizens — which could be 15 to 20 years after they first applied under the act — DREAMers could petition for parents or siblings to gain legal status.

If the parents entered the country legally at some point, they can wait in the U.S. while the application is processed. Siblings would have to return to their birth country and get on a long waiting list.

Many DREAMers and their families entered the country legally with a tourist or other visa and simply overstayed.

Currently, DREAMers cannot apply on their own for legal status unless they have $1 million to invest in a business venture. The only options are to marry a U.S. citizen or to be sponsored by a potential employer or parents or siblings who are U.S. citizens.

In the case of marriage, the DREAMer could wait in the U.S. if he or she entered the country legally at some point.

Employment and family petitions require them to wait in their birth country.

Immigrants who did not enter the country legally must wait 10 years before applying for re-entry.

If the birth country is Mexico, waiting periods for family and employment petitions can stretch from 10 to 20 years. Immigrants from other countries such as Pakistan or India face shorter lines.

Currently, DREAMers can't join the military without proof of legal residence.

Illegal immigrants in 10 states, including Texas and California, can attend public universities and pay in-state tuition prices. However, the latest version of the DREAM Act would require illegal immigrants to pay more expensive out-of-state tuition.

Shivers said most of the DREAMers she advises, including Veliz, do not have any of these options available. Passage of the DREAM Act is their only potential relief.